East Hartford Shooting Victim Dies, Springfield Police Say

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — An East Hartford man who was shot in Springfield over the weekend has died, police said Wednesday.

Demarcus Johnson, 38, of Deborah Drive died Tuesday at an area hospital, they said.

According to Springfield police, the shooting happened shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday. Police were dispatched to Overlook Drive near Island Pond Road for a man down.

Officers arrived and discovered a man with a gunshot wound lying on the street next to his 2006 Cadillac, Sgt. John Delaney said. Medics provided care and transported him to an area hospital, he said.

"This is now a murder and detectives under the command of Captain Thomas Trites are continuing their around the clock investigation into this shooting," Delaney said. "The neighborhood near Overlook Drive and Island Pond Road is considered safe and this murder should NOT be looked upon as a random crime."

Investigators are following leads, he said. Anyone with information that might help them is asked to call the detective bureau at 413-787-6355.